my father's father was a chief,
back when that meant something,
they swore blood oaths and poured
libation out to the old gods,
they striped their cheeks like tigers,
wore ocean beads made by deep divers,
but maybe tradition is shallow.
tradition can't make the Naira any stronger,
it can't fill the potholes big enough to sleep in,
destitution has a way of making souls sag
and seeping deep into the bone.
be careful driving on the gutter,
you might fall into the street,
or you might lose electricity during a job interview,
after all, my grandfather was a chief
but our family home had no power.
Artwork by Buhle Nkalashe.